Mounting means for a condition responsive means and method of mounting the same

ABSTRACT

A frame, such as a flame shield of a pilot burner means, having openings therein. A condition sensing bulb disposed in the openings and having a portion thereof disposed in abutting relation with the frame to locate the bulb relative to the frame with the bulb being adapted to be disassembled from the openings of the frame only in a direction substantially opposite to the abutting direction of the bulb with the frame. The bulb has a conduit leading therefrom and is bent against the frame in a direction to pull and maintain the portion of the bulb into its abutting relation against the frame whereby the bulb is assembled to the frame solely by the bent part of the conduit thereof.

[451 Sept. 5, 1972 United States Patent Riehl [54] MOUNTING MEANS FOR A Primary ExaminerEdward G. Favo Att0rneyAu zville Jackson, Jr., and Candor, Candor & Tassone CONDITION RESPONSIVE MEANS AND METHOD OF MOUNTING THE SAME Robert L. Marben ABSTRACT A frame, such as a flame shield of a pilot burner means, having openings therein. A condition sensing bulb disposed in the openings and having a portion thereof disposed in abutting relation with the frame to locate the bulb relative to the frame with the. bulb being adapted to be disassembled from the openings of the frame only in a direction substantially opposite to the abutting direction of the bulb with the frame. The bulb has a conduit leading therefrom and is bent against the frame in adirection to pull and maintain the portion of the bulb into its abutting relation against the frame whereby the bulb is assembled to the frame solely by the bent part of the conduit thereof.

21 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Richmond, Va.

[22] Filed: April 13, 1971 [21] Appl, No.: 133,521

[52] US. Cl. ......................43l/42, 29/44. 5, 248/300 [51] 9/12 [58] Field of Search ........248/65, 201, 300; 211/100;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,405,999 10/1968 Riehl..........,........,.......431/42 3,498,730 3/1970 Wolfe.....;....................431/42 PKTENTEI'JSEP 5 m2 SHEET 2 UF 2 IN VENTOR. FR ED RI EH L 6 a, Km, v

HIS ATTORNEYS MOUNTING MEANS FOR A CONDITION RESPONSIVE MEANS AND METHOD OF MOUNTING THE SAME This invention relates to an improved mounting means for a condition sensing bulb and to a method for mounting such a condition sensing bulb.

It is well known that condition sensing bulbs have been provided for pilot burner constructions wherein the bulb will detect a large heater flame issuing from the pilot burner means to cause opening of amain fuel supply line to the main burner means that will be ignited by the pilot burner means. Such detector bulb is so located on the pilot burner means that a normally burning low or standby flame of the pilot burner means will not be detected by the condition sensing bulb so that the main control device will not direct fuel the the main burner means until a large heater flame exists at the pilot burner means. Such a pilot burner means and operation thereof is fully disclosed in applicant's issued U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,871.

Some manufacturers mount the condition sensing bulb to the frame means of the pilot burner means or the like by the use of a self-tapping screw which not only requires a relatively high labor cost in the initial assembly of such screw mounting means, but also provides'for difficult field disassembly for replacement purposes after a long period of pilot burner usage.

Accordingly, it is a feature of this invention to provide an improved means for mounting the condition sensing bulb to the frame means of a pilot burner means or the like wherein no self-tapping screws or other auxiliary fastening means are utilized and wherein the condition sensing bulb is mounted in place by a simple assembly procedure which will readily'permit the bulb to be removed in the field for replacement purposes, when desired, regardless of the length of time of that the pilot burner has been in use.

In particular, one embodiment of this invention provides a frame means having opening means therein. A condition sensing bulb is disposed in the opening means and has a portion thereof disposed in abutting relation with the frame means to locate the bulb relative to the frame means. The bulb is adapted to be disassembled from the opening means of the frame means only in a direction substantially opposite to the abutting direction of the portion of the bulb with the frame means. The bulb has a capillary tube or conduit leading therefrom and the conduit is bent against the frame means in a direction to pull and maintain the portion of the bulb into its abutting relation against the frame .means whereby the bulb is assembled to the frame means solely by the bent part of the conduit thereof. Thus, when it is desired to disassemble the condition sensing bulb from the frame means, the operator merely unbends the conduit portion to disassemble the bulb from the opening means of the frame means.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved mounting means for a condition sensing bulb or the like, the mounting means of this invention having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for mounting a condition sensing bulb to a frame means or the like, the method of this invention having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the improved pilot burner means of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the pilot burner means of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the pilot burner means of FIG. 2 and is taken-substantially in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of F IG.-2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the pilot burner means of FIG. 2, is partially in cross section and is taken substantially in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates the method of assembling the condition sensing bulb to the pilot burner means.

While the various features of the invention are hereinafter illustrated and described as being particularly adapted to provide means for mounting the flame detector bulb to a pilot burner means of the'dual-rate variety, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any-combination thereof to provide improved mounting means for condition sensing bulbs for other devices as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the improved pilot burner construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises a conduit portion 11 having one end 12 coupled to a conduit fitting 13 that is fastened to an L-shaped bracket member 14 and has a threaded end 15 for interconnecting to a fuel supply source or the like for directing fuel to the fitting 13, into the conduit section 11 and out through the end 16 thereof for creating a small standby flame at a first opening 17 formed in a flame shield extension 18 of the tubular section 11 when a certain flow of fuel is passed into the conduit 11 and for creating a large heater flame at the lower open end 19 of the flame shield 18 when an increased flow of fuel is fed to the conduit section 1 1 in a manner well known in the art. For example, further details of the general function and structure of the pilot burner construction 10 can be obtained by reviewing the structure and description of the dual rate pilot burner set forth in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,871.

In order to detect the large heater flame when the same exists at the outlet end 19 of the flame shield 18, a condition sensing or flame detector bulb 20 is provided and has the interior thereof interconnected by a suitable capillary or conduit means 21 to a desired control device which will operate in one condition thereof when the fluid in the bulb 20 expands due'to heating thereof by flames appearing at the outlet 19 of the pilot burner construction 10 and which will operate in another condition thereof when the fluid in the bulb 20 contracts due to the termination of flames at the outlet 19 of the pilot burner construction 10 as fully set forth in the aforementioned U.S. Patent.

However, the bulb 20 of this invention is carried by the flame shield 18 of the pilot burner construction 10 adjacent the opening 19 thereof by being mounted in aligned opening means 22 and 23 respectively formed in projecting ears 24 and 25 of the opposed depending flanges 26 and 27 of the flame shield 18, the ears 24 and 25 extending beyond the lower edge 28 of the top wall 29 of the flame shield 18 a desired distance so as to position the bulb 20 in the proper position relative to the heater flame outlet 19. The openings 22 and 23 in the ears 24 and 25 are substantially circularso as to be complementary to an intermediate, elongated cylindrical portion 30 of the bulb 20. However, one end 31 of the bulb 20 forms a closed end thereof and is substantially hemispherical in configuration whereas the other end '32 of the bulb'20 is substantially frusto-conical in configuration with the smaller base 33 thereof joining with the conduit or capillary tube 21 at the end 34 thereof as illustrated.

The car 24 of the flame shield 18 is reversely bent to define another ear 35 parallel to but spaced from the ear 24 and being interconnected thereto by a U-shaped portion 36. The ear 35 has an opening 37 formed therein and coaxially aligned with the openings 22 and 23 of the ears 24 and 25, but being smaller in diameter thereof, so as to wedgingly receive the vfrusto-conical portion 32 of the bulb 20 when thesame is pulled into the opening 37 in a leftward direction as illustrated in FIG. 3 so as not only to abut the bulb 20 into abutting relation against the flame shield 18 to limit movement therebetweembut also to wedge the portion 32 into the opening 37 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The ears 24, 25 and 35 respectively have slots 38, 39 and 40 formed therein and respectively leading to the openings 22, 23 and 37 thereof with the slots 38 and 39 of the ears 24 and 25 being disposed vertical and intersecting with their openings 22 and 23 in an opposite direction to the direction that the vertical slot 40 interconnects with the opening 37 as illustrated for a purpose hereinafter described. The width of the slots 38, 39 and 40 is such that the same will readily receive the capillary tube 21 therein but will not permit the bulb 20 or any part thereof to be received therein as will be apparent hereinafter.

The ear 35 of the flame shield 18 has a free end 41 thereof bent at an angle relative to the remainder thereof with the free end 41 having a tang 42 projecting therefrom beyond the edge 43 of the bent free end portion 41 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The L-shaped bracket 14 for mounting the pilot burner construction to any suitable frame structure through suitable mounting means 44 and 45 thereof has an L-shaped notch 46 formed in one leg 47 thereof and joining with a notch 48 in the other leg 49 thereof so that the interconnected notches 46 and 48 interconnect with each other at the elbow 50 of the L-shaped bracket 14.

When it is desired to assemble a condition sensing bulb to the pilot burner construction 10, the bulb 20 and capillary tube 21 are held in substantially a vertical direction as indicated by the bulb 20A illustrated in phantom in FIG. 5 with the bulb 20A being disposed above the capillary tube 21 and the flame shield 18 so that the capillary tube 21 can be passed between the ears 35 and 24 and be aligned with the vertically disposed-notches or slots 38, 39 and 40. At this time, the bulb 20A and capillary tube 21 are rotated in a clockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 5 and as illustrated by the phantom showing of bulb 208 in FIG. 5 to the horizontal position as illustrated by thebulb 20 in full lines in FIG. 5 whereby it can be seen that the capillary 21 is received vertically upwardly into the notch 40 of the ear 35 and subsequently into the opening 37 thereof while the capillary tube 21- to the right thereof is received vertically downwardly in the notches 38 and 39 of the ears 24 and to be subsequently received into the openings 22 and 23 of the ears 24 and 25 as illustrated by full lines in FIG. 5. The capillary tube 21 is then pulled to the left in FIG. 5 to thread the bulb 20 first through the opening 23 in the ear 25 and then through the opening 22 in the ear 24 until the frustoconical portion 32 thereof is received into wedging relation into the opening 37 of the ear 35 as illustrated in FIG. 3. In this manner, the bulb 29 is now fully held in the openings 22 and 23 of the ears 24 and 25 in the proper position relative to the heater flame outlet opening 19 of the pilot burner construction 10 and further leftward movement thereof in FIGS. 3 and 5 is prevented by the frusto-conica1 portion 32 being wedged into the circular opening 37 of the, ear 35.

In order to lock the bulb 20 inthe assembled position as illustrated in FIG. 3, the capillary tube 21 is then bent against the edge 43 of the angular part 41 of the ear 35 above the outwardly directed tang 42 so that such bending of the capillary tube 21 at the part 51 thereof against the edge 43 of the ear 35 prevents the bulb 20 from being moved to the right in FIG. 3 in a disassembling direction thereof until the bent part 51 is again straightened to permit the bulb 20 to move to the right. Such bent part 51 of the capillary 21 will not be permitted to be bent downwardly because the tang 42 of the ear 35 prevents the same from being bent downwardly until the same is bent outwardly to clear the tang 42 whereby it can be seen that the capillary 21 is bent from its notch 40 in the ear 35 at the portion 51 thereof.

After or as the part 51 of the capillary 21 is being bent at 90 relative to the bulb 20 about the edge 43 of the ear 35, the upper part 52 of the capillary 21 is received in the L-shaped notch 46 and then bent downwardly at 90 relative thereto to anchor the capillary tube 21 to the mounting bracket 14 as illustrated in FIG. 1. In order to take up any slack in the capillary tube 21 between the bracket 14 and the ear 35 of the flame shield 18, an intermediate part 53 of the capillary tube 21 can be bent downwardly as illustrated so that the three bent parts 51, 52 and 53 of the capillary 21 firmly lock the bulb 20 in its wedged relation in the flame shield 18 so that the same is in positive position relative thereto for detecting a large flame at the heater flame outlet 19 of the burner construction 10.

Thus, it can be seen that the bulb 20 and capillary tube 21 are adapted to be readily assembled to the pilot burner construction 10 in a simple and effective manner without requiring auxiliary fastening means to positively locate the bulb 20 relative to the burner construction 10, such as the self-tapping screw mounting means as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 of the aforementioned U.S. Pat. to Riehl, No. 3,308,871.

Further, when it is desired to replace a bulb 20 and its capillary 21 in the field, the operator merely unbends the part 52 of the capillary 21 to free the same from the notches 46 and 48 of the bracket 14 and can unbend the same outwardly so as to' be substantially coaxial with the bulb 20 to thereby unbend the 90 portion 51 thereof so that the bulb 20 can be axially moved to the right in FIG. 3 to free the bulb 20 from the openings 23 and 22 of the ears 25 and 24 as well as the frusto-conical part 32 thereof from the opening 37 of the ear 35 whereby the capillary tube 21 can be unlocked from the openings 37, 22 and'23 in the manner illustrated by phantom lines in FIG. 5 to completely remove the bulb 20 from the pilot burner construction 10.

Altemately,the operator need only unhook the bent portion 52 from the mounting member notches 46 and 48 and rotate the capillary tube 21 downwardly in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1 until the tube 21 is aligned with the notch 40 in the car 35. At this time the bulb 20 has been merely rotating in the openings 37, 22 and 23. The bulb 20 and capillary 21 are now pushed to' the right in FIG. 1 until the capillary 21 clears the notch 40 in the ear 37. The capillary tube 21 and bulb 20 are then rotated 180 in, a clockwise direction in FIG. 1 to align the-capillary tube 21 with the notch 38 in the ear 24 whereby thetube 21 and bulb 20 can now be completely removed by moving the same to the right in FIG. 1 because the capillary 21 is now aligned with the notches 38 and 39 of the ears 24 and 25. Thus, the 90 bend 51 in the capillary tube 21 need not be straightened to remove the bulb 20 from a pilot burner construction 10.

Obviously, then a new bulb 20 and its capillary tube 21 can be assembled to the pilot burner construction in the manner previously described so that it is a relatively simple operation to replace the condition sensing bulbs in the field as well as to initially assemble such bulbs 20 to the pilot burner constructions 10 in the manner previously described.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention not only provides an improved condition sensing bulb mounting structure, but also this invention provides an improved method of mounting a condition sensing bulb to a frame structure or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a frame means having opening means therein, and a condition sensing bulb disposed in said opening means and having a portion thereof disposed in abutting relation with said frame means to locate said bulb relative to said frame means, said bulb being adapted to be disassembled from said opening means of said frame means only in a direction substantially opposite to the abutting direction of said portion of said bulb against said frame means, said bulb having a conduit leading therefrom and being bent against said frame means in a direction to pull and maintain said portion of said bulb. into its said abutting relation against said frame means whereby said bulb is assembled to said frame means solely by said bent part of said conduit thereof.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said abutting portion of said bulb is wedged into abutting relation with said frame means by said bent part of said conduit.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said abutting portion of said bulb is wedged into said opening means by said bent part of said conduit. I

4. A combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said abutting portion of said bulb comprises an end thereof that is interconnected to said conduit, said end of said bulb being substantially frusto-conical in configuration, said opening means that wedgingly receives said end of said bulb comprising an opening in said frame that has a substantially circular internal periphery receiving said end of said bulb to wedgetherewith.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said opening means further comprises a pair of openings in said frame means aligned with the first mentioned opening and disposed on each side thereof and respectively receiving said conduit and said bulb therein.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said frame means has a plurality of slots therein respectively leading to said openings for assembling said bulb and conduit into said openings.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opening means comprises a plurality of openings in said frame means and disposed spaced from each other.

8. A combination as set forth'in claim 7 wherein said bulb is disposed in some of said openings and said conduit is disposed in the remainder of said openings.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said openings are in aligned relation.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conduit has at least one other part thereof bent against said frame means to further secure said bulb to said frame means.

11. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame means comprises a pilot burner means and said bulb comprises a flame detector for said pilot burner means. v

12. In combination, a pilot burner means having an outlet for issuing flame means therefrom, said pilot burner meanshaving a flame shield for guiding said flame means from'said outlet, said flame shield having opening means, and a flame sensing bulb means wedged in said opening means and having a conduit leading therefrom, said conduit locking said bulb means in said wedged relation with said frame means by being bent against said frame means whereby said conduit provides the sole means for securing said bulb means to said flame shield.

13. A combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said conduit pulls and maintains said bulb means in said wedged relation in said opening means.

14. A combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein said conduit is bent in a torsious path about said pilot burner means to lock said bulb means in place.

15. A combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said conduit has a plurality of parts bent against said burner means to secure said bulb means thereto.

16. A method for making a condition sensing structure comprising the steps of disposing a conditionsensing bulb in opening means of a frame means so as to be in abutting relation therewith in a direction substantially opposite to a disassembly direction therebetween, and bending a conduit leading from said bulb against said frame means in a direction to pull and maintain said portion of said bulb into its said abutting relation against said frame means whereby said bulb is secured to said frame means solely by said bent part of said conduit thereof.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said step of disposing said bulb in said opening means comprises the step of disposing a portion of said bulb in wedging relation with said frame means.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein said step of disposing said bulb in said opening means comprises the step of disposing said portion of said bulb in wedging relation in said opening means.

19. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said opening means comprises a plurality of openings in said frame means and wherein said step of disposing said bulb in said opening means comprises the steps of disposing said bulb in some of said openings and disposing said conduit in the remainder of said openings.

20. A method as set forth in claim 16 and including the step of bending at least one other part of said conduit against said frame means to secure said bulb to said frame means.

21. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said frame means comprises a pilot burner means and said bulb comprises a flame detector of said pilot burner means.

* #l III 

1. In combination, a frame means having opening means therein, and a condition sensing bulb disposed in said opening means and having a portion thereof disposed in abutting relation with said frame means to locate said bulb relative to said frame means, said bulb being adapted to be disassembled from said opening means of said frame means only in a direction substantially opposite to the abutting direction of said portion of said bulb against said frame means, said bulb having a conduit leading therefrom and being bent against said frame means in a direction to pull and maintain said portion of said bulb into its said abutting relation against said frame means whereby said bulb is assembled to said frame means solely by said bent part of said conduit thereof.
 2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said abutting portion of said bulb is wedged into abutting relation with said frame means by said bent part of said conduit.
 3. A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said abutting portion of said bulb is wedged into said opening means by said bent part of said conduit.
 4. A combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said abutting portion of said bulb comprises an end thereof that is interconnected to said conduit, said end of said bulb being substantially frusto-conical in configuration, said opening means that wedgingly receives said end of said bulb comprising an opening in said frame that has a substantially circular internal periphery receiving said end of said bulb to wedge therewith.
 5. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said opening means further comprises a pair of openings in said frame means aligned with the first mentioned opening and disposed on each side thereof and respectively receiving said conduit and said bulb therein.
 6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said frame means has a plurality of slots therein respectively leading to said openings for assembling said bulb and conduit into said openings.
 7. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opening means comprises a plurality of openings in said frame means and disposed spaced from each other.
 8. A combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said bulb is disposed in some of said openings and said conduit is disposed in the remainder of said openings.
 9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said openings are in aligned relation.
 10. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conduit has at least one other part thereof bent against said frame means to further secure said bulb to said frame means.
 11. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame means comprises a pilot burner means and said bulb comprises a flame detector for said pilot burner means.
 12. In combination, a pilot burner means having an ouTlet for issuing flame means therefrom, said pilot burner means having a flame shield for guiding said flame means from said outlet, said flame shield having opening means, and a flame sensing bulb means wedged in said opening means and having a conduit leading therefrom, said conduit locking said bulb means in said wedged relation with said frame means by being bent against said frame means whereby said conduit provides the sole means for securing said bulb means to said flame shield.
 13. A combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said conduit pulls and maintains said bulb means in said wedged relation in said opening means.
 14. A combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein said conduit is bent in a torsious path about said pilot burner means to lock said bulb means in place.
 15. A combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said conduit has a plurality of parts bent against said burner means to secure said bulb means thereto.
 16. A method for making a condition sensing structure comprising the steps of disposing a condition sensing bulb in opening means of a frame means so as to be in abutting relation therewith in a direction substantially opposite to a disassembly direction therebetween, and bending a conduit leading from said bulb against said frame means in a direction to pull and maintain said portion of said bulb into its said abutting relation against said frame means whereby said bulb is secured to said frame means solely by said bent part of said conduit thereof.
 17. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said step of disposing said bulb in said opening means comprises the step of disposing a portion of said bulb in wedging relation with said frame means.
 18. A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein said step of disposing said bulb in said opening means comprises the step of disposing said portion of said bulb in wedging relation in said opening means.
 19. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said opening means comprises a plurality of openings in said frame means and wherein said step of disposing said bulb in said opening means comprises the steps of disposing said bulb in some of said openings and disposing said conduit in the remainder of said openings.
 20. A method as set forth in claim 16 and including the step of bending at least one other part of said conduit against said frame means to secure said bulb to said frame means.
 21. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said frame means comprises a pilot burner means and said bulb comprises a flame detector of said pilot burner means. 